The fruit of their labors

Monday, October 29, 2012 -- Anonymous (not verified)

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Editorials

Monday, October 29, 2012

Author(s):

Boston Herald editorial staff

Is there a bigger bunch of hypocrites than the union honchos who make their living decrying income inequality in this commonwealth — while cashing huge paychecks that are financed by their rank-and-file members?

Leading this piggy parade is Rep. Martin Walsh (D-Dorchester), a “full-time” legislator who is also secretary/treasurer of the Building and Construction Trades Council. Somehow he still finds the time to organize union members to campaign for Senate candidate Elizabeth Warren.

For skillfully navigating that minefield of conflicts Walsh pulls down $167,911 from the union, while he earns a $67,000 state salary. Oh, and the building trades organization also pays for Walsh’s luxury SUV.

“I’m not part of that 1 percent,” he told the Herald’s Joe Battenfeld, who chronicled the let-the-good-times-roll salaries at many of the labor outfits in the region.

Just keep telling yourself that, Marty.

More than 30 leaders of the Massachusetts Nurses Association earn more than $100,000, Battenfeld reported, while the New England Council of Carpenters last year spent $816,000 just to lease cars.

One construction worker said the rank-and-file don’t speak out for fear of retribution. “There are a lot of people upset about it, but if you voice your opinion you’re not put to work,” he said. So at a time of crushing unemployment in the building trades some working stiff who needs to feed his family dummies up for fear of offending his gluttonous union leader. If only more members like that one would speak out.